Banks tightening lending standards
WASHINGTON -- A majority of the nation's banks have tightened lending standards on subprime mortgages, the Federal Reserve said Monday in a survey that provided further evidence of the spreading problems in mortgage lending.

Association focuses on the Cuban environment
The St. Augustine-Baracoa Friendship Association is currently focusing its humanitarian aid campaign in support of environmental projects in the Guantnamo province. According to volunteer and spokesperson Kristy Weeks, the St. Augustine-Baracoa Friendship Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose objectives are to establish, promote and foster a spirit of friendship with the citizens of Baracoa and in particular, with small groups and associations of lesser-advantaged people.

Go & Do
TODAY
Music by the Sea: Nightwind, a local band, will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at the St. Augustine Beach Pier and Pavilion. Ambiance Catering will serve dinners beginning at 6 p.m. Call 347-8007.

Crime Stoppers hosting fund-raising golf classic
Crime Stoppers of North East Florida hosts its Inaugural Golf Classic to Benefit Law Enforcement on Sept. 14 at Ginn Hammock Resort Ocean Course. The Ocean Course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design with six holes that put the players right on the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

News & Notes
Nursing registration
Registration for SJRCC's upcoming nursing assistant class will remain open through Aug. 30. Registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. at all campuses. Those planning to attend the class must complete a background check, drug screening and a complete physical with bloodwork. For more information, call (386) 312-4200, Orange Park: 276-6800, St. Augustine: 808-7400) and ask for the nursing department, extension 4176.

Go & Do
TODAY
Jewelry workshop: Bring your own beads or buy some new to make a Cha-Cha bracelet at the Bead Chick from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $20, plus supplies. Call 829-8829.

QuiltFest next month in Jax
One of the largest quilt shows in the Southeast returns to Jacksonville in September with more space than ever and even more events.

Key to opportunity
St. Augustine High School graduate, Trakia Thompson, is well equipped up for college after accepting her new laptop computer.

The group with TLC
For the past 35 years, The Arc of the St. Johns has proven to be a caring and valuable organization serving children and adults with severe learning disabilities.

In Service
Marine Corps Sgt. Kevin R. MacNamara, son of Mike B. MacNamara of St. Augustine, recently received a Certificate of Commendation while serving as aviation maintenance administrator assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 in Okinawa, Japan.

Ginger Brew for summer seafood
If you enjoy the taste of real ginger, it's best to skip most conventional ginger ales. Instead, hunt down a few bottles of Ginger Brew, a deliciously pungent soda.

Colon cancer recurrence linked to diet
Colon cancer survivors who eat a "Western" diet high in red meat, fats and refined grains are more than three times as likely to have a recurrence as those who consume a "prudent" diet high in fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables, researchers said Tuesday.

Medicine can treat prediabetes
Your doctor is on the cutting edge. She uses tests not routinely done by most doctors. C peptide is a small protein associated with insulin. High levels of it indicate an overproduction of insulin. High levels of insulin indicate the same thing. An overproduction of insulin is evidence that your insulin isn't working properly. You need more than the regular amount to keep your blood sugar low. An insensitivity to insulin is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.You don't have diabetes. You might have impaired fasting glucose.

White House strategist Rove resigns
WASHINGTON -- Senior White House strategist Karl Rove is leaving the administration at the end of the month, leaving President Bush facing the loss of his most trusted political adviser as he heads into the final year and a half of his presidency.

Little progress in rescue attempt
LOS ANGELES -- One full week after the collapse of a mine deep under a remote Utah mountain, rescuers tunneling toward six miners trapped inside have made painfully little progress, officials said Monday.

Island residents brace for Pacific hurricane after quake
Schools closed and shelters opened in anticipation of the hurricane, which was downgraded to a Category 2 with top sustained winds of 105 mph. The eye of the storm was expected to pass within 85 miles of the island between 2 and 3 p.m. Hawaii time (8-9 p.m. EDT), and wind speeds on land were expected to exceed 40 mph.

Who's on the line? These days, it could be everyone
WASHINGTON -- In the blink of an eye, you could miss it -- that scene in "The Bourne Supremacy" when Jason Bourne delivers a lightning-quick beat-down to a U.S. consulate official in Naples, then grabs the man's PDA, manipulates its micro-motherboard, and drives off listening to the man on this 21st-century wiretap. And in the latest film, "The Bourne Ultimatum," wiretapping is the very deed that drives the frenetic plot.

Heat wave death toll rises
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A heat wave continued to bake parts of the South on Tuesday, raising the number of heat-linked deaths in Tennessee to at least five and buckling roads in Mississippi.

Lead paint fears spark recall
NEW YORK -- Toy giant Mattel pulled more than 9 million products off U.S. store shelves Tuesday after safety fears prompted its second recall in only two weeks.

Foreclosures hit urban areas, Middle America hard
WASHINGTON -- A central California agricultural town, the automobile capital of the world and a down-on-its-luck gambling hotspot had the nation's highest rates of foreclosure filings for the first half of 2007, according to real estate data released Tuesday.

Hopes begin to fade for mine survivors
LOS ANGELES -- Since the moment last week that a Utah mine collapsed with six men trapped inside, mine co-owner Robert Murray has stuck to a simple message. "The miners could still be alive," he says over and over again. "There are many, many reasons to have hope."

Spacecraft turns into classroom
CAPE CANAVERAL -- Teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan transformed the space shuttle and space station into a classroom Tuesday for her first education session from orbit, fulfilling the legacy of Christa McAuliffe with joy and also some sadness.

Key foods prices rising by double digits
MIDLAND, Va. -- The Labor Department's most recent inflation data showed that U.S. food prices rose by 4.1 percent for the 12 months ending in June, but a deeper look at the numbers reveals that the price of milk, eggs and other essentials in the American diet are actually rising by double digits.

Draft bridge plan presented
MINNEAPOLIS -- The preliminary design for a new interstate bridge doesn't include any room for a memorial to the victims of the collapsed span or other key features, worrying city leaders who could jeopardize the breakneck schedule to rebuild the critical transit link.

Correction
NO MORE BENCHES -- An item in Sunday's Lifestyles section about benches for sale by the City of St. Augustine was incorrect. The city has sold all of the benches.

Pond to memorialize worker
When students return to The Webster School later this month, they'll be greeted at the school's main entrance by a scenic garden, complete with a stone waterfall and fish pond, the vision of a man whose brief tenure there was marked by a devotion to his work and a love of children.

Crescent Beach paint out
Gainesville artist Peter Carolin paints a seascape on Crescent Beach on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. Carolin is part of a group of more that 30 Florida artists who will be painting area landscapes for the next four days during the 3rd annual Crescent Beach Paint Out sponsored by the Island Fine Art Gallery in Crescent Beach. --By PETER WILLOTT

San Sebastian tower gets city's OK
The St. Augustine City Commission approved the redesign of the San Sebastian Harbor project on Monday, which allows a possible 90-foot tower.

Julington Creek fees get higher
ST. JOHNS -- Julington Creek Plantation's Community Development District Tuesday approved fee hikes that will raise single family home assessments $190 in fiscal year 2008.

Adult venues not held to zone
Adult entertainment businesses will be able to set up shop in dozens of parcels in St. Augustine because of action the City Commission took Monday.

Mayport Ferry will continue to run
The Mayport Ferry's 59-year run chugging across the St. John River from Mayport to Ft. George Island will continue, thanks to the Jacksonville Port Authority, which decided Monday to take over operations from the city for at least another year.

County considers new fees
St. Johns County residents who own a dog or cat, drive to the beach or have an overly sensitive burglar alarm system in their homes may soon may be paying more in new fees and fines.

She's just another teammate
The freshman mixes in well with the other players, laughing and engaged in constant conversation while waiting for picture day to end.

Sheriff's Office seeks J.H. Hardy
Law enforcement officers are seeking a 32-year-old St. Johns County man wanted in connection with a shooting late Sunday night, said St. Johns County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Kelshaw.

Shootings spark fear in West Augustine
Three separate shootings Sunday and early Monday in West Augustine left one man wounded, bullet holes in two homes and local lawmen puzzling over the cause and connection of the incidents.

Sheriff returns to work after hospital stay
Somewhat thinner, but still appearing alert, strong and smiling, St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar on Tuesday was back for his first full day of work since he passed out in his office a week ago.

Police Report: Flagler Hospital loses power
Man sought in robbery: A man wearing a green hooded sweatshirt robbed a convenience store at 1633 County Road 210 West near Interstate 95 just before midnight Saturday, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office reports said. The store cashiers, ages 16 and 25, said a man walked in and brandished what looked like a Glock 9mm pistol, asking for money from the register and the 16-year-old's wallet. He made both clerks lay down on the floor and kicked the older one in the shoulder before running out the back door, reports said. Deputy Michael Butler and his K-9 officer Zeus checked the area but no trail was discovered, possibly because it was raining, reports said. The robber was identified as a black man in sunglasses and dark bluejean shorts and carrying a black bag.

Police Report: Stand-off ends in arrest
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
Man drives into church: A 23-year-old man who said he "mad with God" crashed into St. Anastasia Catholic Church early Tuesday morning, said St. Johns County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Kelshaw.

Jane Strohmetz Jansson
Jane Strohmetz Jansson 83, of St. Augustine, died Aug. 9, 2007, at her home. Mrs. Jansson was a native of Haddonfield, N.J., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 17 years. Mrs. Jansson was an active member of Grace United Methodist Women's Prayer Group. She was a homemaker and a founding member of Habitat for Humanities in St. John's County and the Christian Women's Club.

Talmadge Schill Skinner
Talmadge Schill Skinner, 78, of St. Augustine, died Aug. 11, 2007, at his home. Mr. Skinner was a native and lifelong resident of St. Augustine and the former owner of Skinner Oil Company. Mr. Skinner served his country in the U.S. Navy and was a MSG in the Florida National Guard for 17 years. He was of the Methodist faith.

Thelma Mary Dolch
Thelma Mary Dolch, 83, of St. Augustine, died Aug. 7, 2007, at the St. Augustine Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Dolch was a native of Manchester, England and had resided in St. Augustine. Mrs. Dolch was a seamstress and she served in the British Army. She was of the Episcopalian faith.

Robert Oliver Mickler
Robert Oliver Mickler, 67, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Aug. 10, 2007, from complications following surgery on July 20, 2007, at St. Vincent's Medical Center.

Thomas Paul Griesel
Thomas Paul Griesel, 57, passed away Aug.12, 2007, his wife by his side. Tom was born in Winona, Minn., leaving home at age 17 to enter the Army.

Thomas Paul Griesel
Thomas Paul Griesel, 57, passed away Aug.12, 2007, his wife by his side. Tom was born in Winona, Minn., leaving home at age 17 to enter the Army. A proud member of the 2-1 CAV, Tom served in Vietnam '68-'69. During his career with Northrop Grumman in Los Angeles and St. Augustine, Tom worked as a toolmaker, manager and engineer.

Krauthammer: The New Republic's literary surprise
WASHINGTON -- For a month, the veracity of The New Republic's Scott Thomas Beauchamp, the Army private who has been sending dispatches from the front in Iraq, has been in dispute. His latest "Baghdad Diarist" (July 13) recounted three incidents of American soldiers engaged in acts of unusual callousness. The stories were meant to shock. And they did.

Letter: State contractor complaint system flawed
Editor: It's a license to steal. The Florida Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) takes entirely too much time investigating complaints filed by property owners against general contractors.

Witcover: The state of the candidate debates
WASHINGTON -- One of the unintended consequences of the unprecedentedly early start to the next presidential election has been the epidemic of candidate debates in both major parties. In one way, that's all to the good, in enabling the voters to hear from all the hopefuls months before any real votes are cast for the presidential nominations.

Buccaneers are a bad franchise from top down
Art Valero, the running backs coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, looked me right in the eye a few days ago and told me Mike Alstott's mysterious absence from practice last week was no big deal.

Tim's time arrives
GAINESVILLE -- Tim Tebow has been "The Man" on Florida's campus since arriving as a freshman.

AL Capsules
DETROIT (AP) -- Mark Ellis homered, Marco Scutaro drove in three runs and Chad Gaudin struck out a career-high nine, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 7-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.

SAHS' Reid Chooses Ga. Tech
St. Augustine High standout Rashaad Reid is heading to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
An offseason filled with solid camp performances has translated into a full ride to Georgia Tech for the cornerback.

Michael Vick's remaining co-defendants to plead guilty
RICHMOND, Va. -- By Friday, Michael Vick could be the last one standing.
The NFL quarterback's remaining two co-defendants have set court dates for later this week to change their pleas to guilty in federal conspiracy charges related to dogfighting.

First-rounder Nelson taking on more responsibility with Jags
JACKSONVILLE -- Safety Reggie Nelson served teammates dinner following the preseason opener, carried several sets of shoulder pads and a few extra helmets after every practice and sat still while his eyebrows were shaved and again as he was taped to the goalpost.

Have we seen the last of Michael Vick?
Right about now, Michael Vick would probably gladly trade a year or two of football for a chance to rid himself of dogfighting charges. He was never going to play this season anyway, not if Roger Goodell, Arthur Blank and thousands of animal-rights activists have anything to say about it.

NFL Capsules
Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was hospitalized Monday with a viral infection and might not return to the team until later this week.

NFL Capsules
With all the uncertainty surrounding Michael Vick, movement on the Falcons' depth chart at quarterback isn't surprising. This time, it's at the bottom.

Florida's Estopinan back on track again
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Javier Estopinan usually doesn't wear a beard. But for the past three days the otherwise tough Florida defensive tackle says he has been scared to shave his face.

Teacher discipline data on Web site
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida parents can check state misconduct records of their children's teachers on a public Web site starting Monday, the first day of school in most communities.

Intent is key in Padilla trial
MIAMI -- To decide whether Jose Padilla and two other men are guilty of supporting terrorism, jurors are going to have to get inside their heads.

Former coach sentenced
WINTER PARK -- A former football coach who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old student will spend a year in jail and a year under house arrest, a judge ruled Monday.

Leaders pushing tougher school grading standards
TALLAHASSEE -- It should be harder to earn an A in Florida's school grading system, a Democratic legislative leader and the head of former Gov. Jeb Bush's educational foundation told state school officials Tuesday.

NASA assesses shuttle damage
CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA conducted a swift series of tests on the ground Monday to determine whether spacewalking astronauts need to fix a deep gouge in Endeavour's belly for re-entry, and assembled a special team to weigh the repair options.

News briefs from around Florida
Prosecutors won't charge man rescued from cruise ship jump
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Prosecutors will not press child sex charges against a man arrested after being rescued from eight hours at sea when he jumped off a cruise ship.

Judge delays ruling on Noriega extradition
MIAMI -- Former Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega, about to be released from U.S. prison after 18 years, will have to wait until Aug. 24 to find out if he won't have to go to France to spend another decade behind bars.

Lawyer: Padilla went overseas to study
MIAMI -- Jose Padilla traveled overseas to peacefully study Arabic and Islam and not to train as an al-Qaida terrorist, his lawyer said Tuesday in closing arguments in a case rooted in sensational 2002 allegations that Padilla plotted to detonate a "dirty bomb" in the U.S.

Teen jailed on weapons, kidnapping charges
A treacherous drug deal landed a Duval County teen in St. Johns County Jail on robbery, kidnapping and weapons charges this morning, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office reported today in a press release.

Russia investigates bombing of train
MOSCOW -- Russian investigators Tuesday launched a terrorism probe into a bomb blast that derailed an express train from Moscow to St. Petersburg, injuring more than 60 people traveling on one of the country's busiest rail routes.

Guevara's daughter now Argentine citizen
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- A daughter of famed revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara has become an Argentine citizen after decades of living in Cuba, an official said Tuesday.

Iraqi military says 175 killed in 4 bombings
BAGHDAD -- Four suicide bombers struck at communities of a small Kurdish sect in northwestern Iraq with nearly simultaneous attacks Tuesday, killing at least 175 people and wounding 200 more, Iraqi military and local officials said.

North Korea floods force thousands from their homes
SEOUL, South Korea -- Torrential rains in North Korea have forced thousands of families from their homes and left at least 200 people dead or missing, an aid official said Tuesday, adding that the worst floods there in a decade will worsen Pyongyang's already precarious ability to feed its people.

Pakistan marks 60th anniversary of independence
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistanis celebrated the 60th anniversary of independence Tuesday with gunfire and colorful displays of national pride, pushing the recent political turmoil and surging militant violence into the background for a day.